Optical product use determination system

ABSTRACT

Methods, systems and apparatus for optically determining the amount of product used and/or remaining in a product dispenser.

The present application is a continuation application of and claimspriority to and benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/527,626,filed on May 17, 2017, which claims priority to and benefit ofPCT/US16/45706, filed on Aug. 5, 2016, which claims priority to andbenefit of U.S. Patent Application No. 62/357,249, filed on Jun. 30,2016, the contents of which are all incorporated herein by reference.

This disclosure relates to optically determining the amount of and/ortype of product in a dispenser.

BACKGROUND

Systems dispensing consumable products are ubiquitous in manyenvironments today. For example, hand towel dispensers are commonplacein many semi-private and public washrooms and break rooms. Determininghow much product remains in a dispenser and, thus, when it needs to berefilled can be a time consuming and laborious endeavor requiring, insome scenarios, that an attendant or building maintenance team membercheck the dispensers on a set schedule and refill as needed. Thisprocess may result in checking the dispenser and determining that (1) norefill is require, resulting in an unnecessary visit to the dispenser,which leads to building management inefficiencies and additional costs,or (2) the dispenser is empty, resulting in frustrated users.

SUMMARY

In general, the subject matter of this specification relates tooptically determining how much product remains in a dispenser, e.g., afolded hand towel dispenser, or the authenticity of the product. Ingeneral, one aspect of the subject matter described in thisspecification can be implemented in systems that include a dispensercomprising a body to hold consumable products, the body having an upperportion and a lower portion, the lower portion having a dispensingopening through which the consumable products are dispensed to a user,and where the consumable products have a top portion and the top portionhas an identification mark, and as the consumable products are dispensedthe top portion and identification mark move away from the upper portionof the body; an optical device proximate the upper portion andconfigured to capture at least a partial image of the identificationmark; and a processing device in data communication with the opticaldevice and configured to determine a characteristic of the image, and atleast one of a match status of the image to an image signature and anamount of the consumable products remaining. Other embodiments of thisaspect include corresponding systems, apparatus, and methods.

Yet another aspect of the subject matter described in this specificationcan be implemented in methods that include generating, by an opticalsensor, an image of an identification mark on a top portion of aconsumable product in a paper product dispenser; analyzing, by aprocessing device, the image to determine a characteristic of the image;and determining an amount of the consumable product remaining based onthe characteristic. Other embodiments of this aspect includecorresponding systems, apparatus, and computer program products.

In some implementations, the methods, systems, apparatus, and computerprogram products described herein have the following features, includingwhere the consumable products are stacked, folded hand towels. The topportion is a top one of the stacked, folded hand towels. The opticaldevice is a camera. The identification mark is a trademark of a providerof the consumable products. The identification mark is a design elementof the consumable products. The design element is a printed or embossedpattern. The characteristic of the image is one or more of sharpness,intensity, edge gradient, focal length of the optical device relative tothe identification mark or focal distance between the optical device andidentification mark, feature matching, correlation and similarity to theidentification mark.

The partial image of the identification mark is a photograph of at leasta portion of the identification mark. The processing device determinesthe amount of the consumable products remaining based on a distancebetween the optical device and the identification mark. The processingdevice is configured to determine the amount of the consumable productsremaining based on a relative size of the identification mark in aviewing field of the optical device. The processing device is configuredto determine the amount of consumable products remaining based on thesize of the identification mark as compared with one or more templatesthat each correspond to a different amount of product remaining. Theprocessing device is configured to generate an alert in response todetermining that the match status is false indicating that the imagedoes not match the image signature. The processing device is configuredto prevent dispensing in response to determining that the match statusis false indicating that the image does not match the image signature.

Particular embodiments of the subject matter described in thisspecification can be implemented so as to realize one or more of thefollowing advantages. For example, the level or amount of productremaining can be determined without requiring an attendant to open andphysically check the dispenser. Further, the product level/amountsensing system does not require a mechanical trigger or lever (e.g., alever arm resting on the product that moves down as product is depleted)be reset or calibrated by the attendant when the product is refilled,which reduces errors in determining the amount of product remainingand/or used.

Because the product level/amount sensing system uses optical detectiontechniques, the system can detect not only the amount of productremaining and/or used but also identify the type of product based onknown characteristics of the product. Such detection can be used, forexample, to specifically identify the type of product (e.g., Product Afrom Manufacturer B or Product C from Manufacturer D). Thisfunctionality can be used to prevent dispensing (or alert an attendant)if a non-compatible or unauthorized product is inserted into thedispenser.

The details of one or more implementations of the subject matterdescribed in this specification are set forth in the accompanyingdrawings and the description below. Other features, aspects, andadvantages of the subject matter will become apparent from thedescription, the drawings, and the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a representation of an example product dispenser with a firstamount of product.

FIG. 1B is a representation of the example identification mark of theproduct of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2A is a representation of the example product dispenser of FIG. 1Awith a second amount of product.

FIG. 2B is a representation of the example identification mark of theproduct of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of an example process for optically determiningan amount of product remaining and/or used in a product dispenser.

Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure generally relates to optically determining howmuch product remains in a dispenser, e.g., a folded hand toweldispenser.

In some implementations, the dispenser uses an optical device, e.g., acamera, to determine the amount of product remaining, e.g., stacked handtowels, in a product dispenser. For example, the dispenser usescharacteristics of an identification mark on the product (e.g., size ofthe product logo in the optical device's field of view or an imageprocessing variable such as resolution or sharpness) to make such adetermination.

As the product is depleted less product remains and the product level inthe dispenser corresponding lowers. In turn, in this example, theidentification mark on the product will appear smaller to a cameramounted near the top of the dispenser as the product level lowers andthe product (and the mark(s) on the product(s)) moves further away fromthe camera.

The operation of such a product use determination system is described inmore detail below with reference to FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2A and 2B.

FIG. 1A is a representation of an example product dispenser 100 with afirst amount 110 of product 103. In some implementations, the dispenser100 has a body 102 to hold consumable products 103. For example, thedispenser 100 can be a wipe/wiper, hand towel, facial or bath tissuedispenser 100, and the product 103 can correspondingly be wipes/wipers,rolled or stacked (and optionally folded) hand towels, stacked facialtissue or rolled bath tissue. The dispenser 100 can, for example, bemade of composite and/or metallic materials and can manually and/orautomatically dispense product 103.

The body includes an upper portion 104 (e.g., the portion closest to theceiling of a washroom or break room) and a lower portion 106 (e.g., theportion closest to the floor of a washroom or break room). In someimplementations, the lower portion 106 has a dispensing opening 108through which the consumable product 103 is dispensed to a user. Inother implementations, the dispensing opening 108 can, for example, beon the front cover or portion of the dispenser 100.

The consumable products 103 have a top portion 112. For example, thefolded and stacked hand towels of FIG. 1A have a top portion 112 closestto the upper portion 104 of the dispenser 100. In some implementations,the top portion 112 is the one hand towel (or tissue or wipe/wiper) atthe top of the stack nearest the upper portion 104. In implementationswhere the product 103 is a rolled product such as bath tissue or rolledhand towels, the top portion 112 is the section of roll (or sheet)closest to the upper portion 104.

As described above, the top portion 112 has an identification mark 114.In some implementations, the identification mark 114 is a trademark orlogo of a provider of the consumable products 103 or is a design elementof the consumable products 103 such as a portion or all or a printed orembossed pattern on the product 103.

The dispenser 100 includes an optical device 116 proximate the upperportion 104. In some implementations, the optical device 116 is a cameraor other imaging device that is positioned and oriented to captureimages or identify or detect characteristics or features of theidentification mark 114 on the product 103. For example, the opticaldevice 116 can take a picture/photograph of the identification markand/or can otherwise generate an optical representation of theidentification mark 114 (e.g., contrast or line/edge map or rendering).

During operation of the dispenser 100 and depletion of the products 103,the top portion 112 and, thus, the identification mark 114 move awayfrom the upper portion 104 of the body 102 as the product 104 isdispensed out of the bottom of the dispenser 100 through the opening108, which lowers the level of the product 103, as shown in FIG. 2A.

FIG. 2A is a representation of the example product dispenser 100 with asecond amount 120 of product 103. The amount 120 of product 103 shown inFIG. 2A is less than the amount 110 of FIG. 1A meaning less product 103is remaining in FIG. 2A than FIG. 1A. Thus FIG. 1A represents thedispenser substantially full of product 103 and FIG. 2A represents thedispenser 100 after some product 103 has been dispensed and thus hasless product 103 remaining. In the context of a rolled product 103, thesame would hold true—the diameter of the rolled product 103 decreaseswith use, which causes the outer surface of the rolled product 103 to befurther away from the upper portion 104 as the product 103 is dispensed.

Accordingly, the distance between the optical device 116 and theidentification mark 114 changes as the product 103 is depleted. Forexample, in FIG. 1A the distance between the optical device 116 and theidentification mark 114 is distance 122. In FIG. 2A, after more producthas been depleted/used, the distance between the optical device 116 andthe identification mark 114 is distance 124, which is greater thandistance 122.

The effect of this increased distance is reflected in FIGS. 1B and 2B.FIG. 1B is a representation of the example identification mark 114 ofthe product 103 of FIG. 1A and FIG. 2B is a representation of theexample identification mark 114 of the product 103 of FIG. 2A. Forexample, this effect can be detected based on the relative size of theidentification mark 114 the viewing field of the optical device 116.More particularly, the relative portion of the viewing field occupied bythe mark 114 changes based on the distance between the optical device116 and the mark 114, which is shown by the mark 114 occupying a greaterportion of the viewing field in FIG. 1B as compared with FIG. 2B becausethe mark 114 is closer to the optical device in FIG. 1B.

In some implementations the dispenser 100 includes a processing device118 while in other implementations the processing device 118 is remoteto the dispenser 100. In either case, the processing device 118 is indata communication with the optical device 116, either directly orindirectly, and can determine or identify a characteristic of the image(e.g., captured by the optical device 116), determine a match status ofthe image to an image signature (e.g., stored in a memory of theprocessing device 118) and/or determine an amount of the consumableproduct 103 remaining.

In some implementations, the processing device 118 can determine oridentify a characteristic of the image such as through feature (e.g.,edge) detection techniques in the image processing field (e.g., Cannyedge detection, Harris & Stephens/Plessey/Shi-Tomasi corner detection).Such feature detection can facilitate matching the image of the mark 114for purposes of authenticating the mark 114 and/or determining how muchproduct 103 remains, as described below.

In some implementations, the processing device 118, for example, candetermine a match status of the image to a known signature of the image(e.g., a known feature or characteristic of the mark 114 such as itsoverall shape, edge patterns, corners, and/or particular patterns orcolors or gradient variations, etc.). The known signature(s) can bestored in the processing device's memory. For example, the processingdevice 118 can use template matching and convolution to determinewhether the image of the mark 114 captured by the optical device 116matches the one or more known signatures of the mark 114. In someimplementations, this matching process includes comparing multiple imagesignatures to the captured image to determine whether there is a match.If the number of matches and/or other confidence metric does not exceeda minimum threshold then the processor 118 determines there is no match.Conversely, if the processing device 118 determines that the thresholdis met or exceeded then the processing device 118 determines there is amatch.

In some implementations, if the processing device 118 determines thereis no match (e.g., a false match status), the processing device 118generates an alert, which can be sent (e.g., wirelessly) to the dataprocessing system 150 or to a mobile device of a service attendant orbuilding manager, indicating that the product 103 in the dispenser 100is not authentic or authorized (e.g., the product is from a differentmanufacturer or source). Further, for example, the processing device 118can prevent dispensing in response to determining that the match statusis false, as unauthorized product may not dispense correctly through thedispenser 100 causing dispensing errors and/or jams that affect theoperability of the dispenser 100. For example, for automated dispensers100, the processing device 118 can stop the dispensing actuator motorfrom turning and causing product 103 to be dispensed to preventdispensing unauthorized product 103.

As mentioned above, in some implementations, the processing device 118determines the amount of the product 103 remaining. For example, basedon a relative size of the identification mark 114 in a viewing field ofthe optical device 116, the processing device 118 determines the amountof product 103 remaining by comparing this relative size with one ormore templates of the mark 114 in the viewing field that each correspondto a different amount of product 103 remaining. For example, theprocessing device 118 stores three such templates: a first where themark occupies 100% of the viewing field and corresponds to a fulldispenser 100 (i.e., no product 103 used), a second where the markoccupies 50% of the viewing field and corresponds to a half-fulldispenser 100 (i.e., half of the product has been used and halfremains), and a third where the mark occupies 10% of the viewing fieldand corresponds to a nearly empty dispenser 100 (i.e., very littleproduct remains). The processing device 118 determines how much productremains by comparing these templates with the images from the opticaldevice 116. If the processing device 118 matches (e.g., within sometolerance) the image with the first template then it determines that noor very little product has been used. Likewise, if the processing device118 matches the image with the third template then it determines thatvery little product remains and, for example, sends an alert to abuilding manager/system or attendant that the dispenser 100 needs to berefilled. In some implementations, there are many templates to providehigher granularity as to the amount of product 103 remaining.

The processing device 118, in some implementations, determines theamount of the consumable product 103 remaining based on a distancebetween the optical device 116 and the identification mark 114. Forexample, based on the focal length of the device 116 relative to themark 114 the processing device 118 can determine such distance. Based onthis distance the processing device 118 can determine how much product103 remains. Thus, by way of example, if the distance is two inches theprocessing device 118 determines that very little or no product has beenused. Conversely, if the distance is twelve inches the processing device118 determines that very little product remains and the dispenser 100should be refilled.

Similarly, other image processing techniques based on sharpness,intensity, edge gradient, correlation and/or similarity to theidentification mark 114 can be used to determine the amount of product103 remaining or authenticity of the product 103.

In some implementations, the dispenser 100 includes a data communicationdevice (e.g., transmitter or transceiver) that operates to communicatewith other devices (e.g., through wired or wireless channels or somecombination thereof). The data communication device 116 can use anynumber of communication protocols including, for example, WIFI,BLUETOOTH and TCP/IP to name a few.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of an example process 300 for opticallydetermining an amount of product 103 remaining and/or used in a productdispenser 100.

An image of an identification mark on a top portion of a consumableproduct in a paper product dispenser is generated (302). For example,the optical device 116 generates the image of the identification mark114.

The image is analyzed to determine a characteristic of the image (304).For example, the processing device 118 analyzes the image.

An amount of the consumable product remaining is determined based on thecharacteristic (306). For example, the processing device 118 determinesthe amount of product remaining.

In some implementations the optical device 116 and the processing device118 can be retrofitted to an existing dispenser, e.g., previouslymanufactured without such capability and/or already installed in awashroom or other facility. In this way, for example, the capability tooptically determine product remaining and/or used can be provided to aninstalled dispenser base. In some implementations, the optical device116 and the processing device 118 can be installed to a dispenserwithout such devices and/or capability by adhesive tape, with screws orbolts, or the like. The relevant distances (e.g., 122 and 124), whetherin retrofit applications or otherwise, for each unique dispenser andidentification mark 114 can be calibrated and programmed into theprocessing device 118.

As described above, the dispenser 100 may include a data processingsystem 150. The data processing system 150 can be part of or separate(e.g., remote) from the dispenser 100. In implementations where the dataprocessing system 118 is remote from the dispenser 100, the system 150and dispenser 100 can communicate across wireless or wired channels, orsome combination thereof. For example, the data processing system 118includes a transceiver and microprocessor to facilitate suchcommunications. In some implementations, the data processing system 150is connected to a WAN or LAN to communicate to and with other devicessuch as mobile devices and/or servers.

Implementations of the subject matter and the operations described inthis specification can be implemented in digital electronic circuitry,or in computer software, firmware, or hardware, including the structuresdisclosed in this specification and their structural equivalents, or incombinations of one or more of them. Implementations of the subjectmatter described in this specification can be implemented as one or morecomputer programs, i.e., one or more modules of computer programinstructions, encoded on computer storage medium for execution by, or tocontrol the operation of, data processing apparatus. Alternatively or inaddition, the program instructions can be encoded on anartificially-generated propagated signal, e.g., a machine-generatedelectrical, optical, or electromagnetic signal, that is generated toencode information for transmission to suitable receiver apparatus forexecution by a data processing apparatus.

A computer storage medium can be, or be included in, a computer-readablestorage device, a computer-readable storage substrate, a random orserial access memory array or device, or a combination of one or more ofthem. Moreover, while a computer storage medium is not a propagatedsignal, a computer storage medium can be a source or destination ofcomputer program instructions encoded in an artificially-generatedpropagated signal. The computer storage medium can also be, or beincluded in, one or more separate physical components or media (e.g.,multiple CDs, disks, or other storage devices).

The operations described in this specification can be implemented asoperations performed by a data processing apparatus or system on datastored on one or more computer-readable storage devices or received fromother sources.

The term data processing apparatus or data processing system encompassesall kinds of apparatus, devices, and machines for processing data,including by way of example a programmable processor, a computer, asystem on a chip, or multiple ones, or combinations, of the foregoingThe apparatus can include special purpose logic circuitry, e.g., an FPGA(field programmable gate array) or an ASIC (application-specificintegrated circuit). The apparatus can also include, in addition tohardware, code that creates an execution environment for the computerprogram in question, e.g., code that constitutes processor firmware, aprotocol stack, a database management system, an operating system, across-platform runtime environment, a virtual machine, or a combinationof one or more of them. The apparatus and execution environment canrealize various different computing model infrastructures, such as webservices, distributed computing and grid computing infrastructures.

A computer program (also known as a program, software, softwareapplication, script, or code) can be written in any form of programminglanguage, including compiled or interpreted languages, declarative orprocedural languages, and it can be deployed in any form, including as astand-alone program or as a module, component, subroutine, object, orother unit suitable for use in a computing environment. A computerprogram may, but need not, correspond to a file in a file system. Aprogram can be stored in a portion of a file that holds other programsor data (e.g., one or more scripts stored in a markup languagedocument), in a single file dedicated to the program in question, or inmultiple coordinated files (e.g., files that store one or more modules,sub-programs, or portions of code). A computer program can be deployedto be executed on one computer or on multiple computers that are locatedat one site or distributed across multiple sites and interconnected by acommunication network.

The processes and logic flows described in this specification can beperformed by one or more programmable processors executing one or morecomputer programs to perform actions by operating on input data andgenerating output. The processes and logic flows can also be performedby, and apparatus can also be implemented as, special purpose logiccircuitry, e.g., an FPGA (field programmable gate array) or an ASIC(application-specific integrated circuit).

Processors suitable for the execution of a computer program include, byway of example, both general and special purpose microprocessors, andany one or more processors of any kind of digital computer. Generally, aprocessor will receive instructions and data from a read-only memory ora random access memory or both. The essential elements of a computer area processor for performing actions in accordance with instructions andone or more memory devices for storing instructions and data. Generally,a computer will also include, or be operatively coupled to receive datafrom or transfer data to, or both, one or more mass storage devices forstoring data, e.g., magnetic, magneto-optical disks, or optical disks.However, a computer need not have such devices. Moreover, a computer canbe embedded in another device, e.g., a mobile telephone, a personaldigital assistant (PDA), a mobile audio or video player, a game console,a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, or a portable storage device(e.g., a universal serial bus (USB) flash drive), to name just a few.Devices suitable for storing computer program instructions and datainclude all forms of non-volatile memory, media and memory devices,including by way of example semiconductor memory devices, e.g., EPROM,EEPROM, and flash memory devices; magnetic disks, e.g., internal harddisks or removable disks; magneto-optical disks; and CD-ROM and DVD-ROMdisks. The processor and the memory can be supplemented by, orincorporated in, special purpose logic circuitry.

Implementations of the subject matter described in this specificationcan be implemented in a computing system that includes a back-endcomponent, e.g., as a data server, or that includes a middlewarecomponent, e.g., an application server, or that includes a front-endcomponent, e.g., a client computer having a graphical user interface ora Web browser through which a user can interact with an implementationof the subject matter described in this specification, or anycombination of one or more such back-end, middleware, or front-endcomponents. The components of the system can be interconnected by anyform or medium of digital data communication, e.g., a communicationnetwork. Examples of communication networks include a local area network(“LAN”) and a wide area network (“WAN”), an inter-network (e.g., theInternet), and peer-to-peer networks (e.g., ad hoc peer-to-peernetworks).

The computing system can include clients and servers. A client andserver are generally remote from each other and typically interactthrough a communication network. The relationship of client and serverarises by virtue of computer programs running on the respectivecomputers and having a client-server relationship to each other. In someembodiments, a server transmits data (e.g., an HTML page) to a usercomputer (e.g., for purposes of displaying data to and receiving userinput from a user interacting with the user computer). Data generated atthe user computer (e.g., a result of the user interaction) can bereceived from the user computer at the server.

While this specification contains many specific implementation details,these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of anyinventions or of what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions offeatures specific to particular embodiments of particular inventions.Certain features that are described in this specification in the contextof separate embodiments can also be implemented in combination in asingle embodiment. Conversely, various features that are described inthe context of a single embodiment can also be implemented in multipleembodiments separately or in any suitable subcombination. Moreover,although features may be described above as acting in certaincombinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more featuresfrom a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from thecombination, and the claimed combination may be directed to asubcombination or variation of a subcombination.

Similarly, while operations are depicted in the drawings in a particularorder, this should not be understood as requiring that such operationsbe performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, orthat all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirableresults. In certain circumstances, multitasking and parallel processingmay be advantageous. Moreover, the separation of various systemcomponents in the embodiments described above should not be understoodas requiring such separation in all embodiments, and it should beunderstood that the described program components and systems cangenerally be integrated together in a single software product orpackaged into multiple software products.

This written description does not limit the invention to the preciseterms set forth. Thus, while the invention has been described in detailwith reference to the examples set forth above, those of ordinary skillin the art may effect alterations, modifications and variations to theexamples without departing from the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A dispenser comprising: a body to hold consumableproducts, the body having an upper portion and a lower portion, thelower portion having a dispensing opening through which the consumableproducts are dispensed to a user, and wherein: the consumable productshave a top portion and the top portion has an identification mark, andas the consumable products are dispensed the top portion andidentification mark move away from the upper portion of the body; anoptical device proximate the upper portion and configured to capture atleast a partial image of the identification mark; and a processingdevice in data communication with the optical device and configured todetermine: a characteristic of the image, and at least one of a matchstatus of the image to an image signature and an amount of theconsumable products remaining, wherein the processing device isconfigured to generate an alert in response to determining that thematch status is false indicating that the image does not match the imagesignature.
 2. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the consumable productsare stacked, folded hand towels.
 3. The dispenser of claim 2, whereinthe top portion is a top one of the stacked, folded hand towels.
 4. Thedispenser of claim 1, wherein the optical device is a camera.
 5. Thedispenser of claim 1, wherein the identification mark is a trademark ofa provider of the consumable products.
 6. The dispenser of claim 1,wherein the identification mark is a design element of the consumableproducts.
 7. The dispenser of claim 6, wherein the design element is aprinted or embossed pattern.
 8. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein thecharacteristic of the image is one or more of sharpness, intensity, edgegradient, focal length of the optical device relative to theidentification mark, feature matching, correlation and similarity to theidentification mark.
 9. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the partialimage of the identification mark is a photograph of at least a portionof the identification mark.
 10. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein theprocessing device determines the amount of the consumable productsremaining based on a distance between the optical device and theidentification mark.
 11. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein theprocessing device is configured to determine the amount of theconsumable products remaining based on a relative size of theidentification mark in a viewing field of the optical device.
 12. Thedispenser of claim 11, wherein the processing device is configured todetermine the amount of consumable products remaining based on the sizeof the identification mark as compared with one or more templates thateach correspond to a different amount of product remaining.
 13. Thedispenser of claim 1, wherein the processing device is configured toprevent dispensing in response to determining that the match status isfalse indicating that the image does not match the image signature. 14.A dispenser comprising: a body to hold consumable products, the bodyhaving an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion having adispensing opening through which the consumable products are dispensedto a user, and wherein: the consumable products have a top portion andthe top portion has an identification mark, and as the consumableproducts are dispensed the top portion and identification mark move awayfrom the upper portion of the body; an optical device proximate theupper portion and configured to capture at least a partial image of theidentification mark; and a processing device in data communication withthe optical device and configured to determine: a characteristic of theimage, at least one of a match status of the image to an image signatureand an amount of the consumable products remaining; and wherein theprocessing device is configured to prevent dispensing in response todetermining that the match status is false indicating that the imagedoes not match the image signature.
 15. A dispenser comprising: a bodyto hold consumable products, the body having an upper portion and alower portion, the lower portion having a dispensing opening throughwhich the consumable products are dispensed to a user, and wherein: theconsumable products have a top portion and the top portion has anidentification mark, and as the consumable products are dispensed thetop portion and identification mark move away from the upper portion ofthe body; an optical device proximate the upper portion and configuredto capture at least a partial image of the identification mark; and aprocessing device in data communication with the optical device andconfigured to: determine a characteristic of the image, determine atleast one of a match status of the image to an image signature andgenerate an alert in response to determining that the match status isfalse indicating that the image does not match the image signature, andan amount of the consumable products remaining.